Signal device



1 MARK.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7.19m.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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JOSEPH MARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed February 7, 1916. Serial No. 76,682.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn MARK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of signal device for use on a vehicle for signaling changes in the progress and course thereof to others, particularly drivers of following vehicles; to provide an improved and compact arrangement of the several signals in such devices; to provide improved means actuated by the manipulation of the controlling mechanism of the vehicle for automatically operating these signals which indicate changes in the progress of the vehicle; and to provide other means for operating the signals which indicate change in the course of the vehicle.

An illustrative embodiment of this inventionis shown in the accompanying drawing in which the figure is a front elevation of the signal device having arranged below a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical connections and switching means by which the signals are controlled.

In the construction shown in the drawing, the casing 1 is subdivided by a plurality of partitions 2, 3, 4, and 5 into compartments 6, 7 8, 9, and 10. The partition 2 is arcuate in shape so that the compartment 6 is open at the bottom for the purpose of allowing the light 11 therein to illuminate the license card 12, suspended from the lower rear edge of the casing 1, in additlon to illuminatlng the usual rear danger sign or tail light 13. The partitions 3, 4, and 5 are disposed radially about the partition 2 and lights 14, 15, 16, and 17 arranged in the respective compartments 7 8, 9, and 10 so as to illummate signs 18, 19, 20, and 21 suitably formed on the front of the casing 1 over the respective comp artments.

The signs 18, 19, 20, and 21 may be classified in two groups, the slgns 18 and 21 being warning signals such as stop and slow indicating changes in the progress of the vehicle, and the signs 19 and 20 indlcating changes in the direction of course of the vehicle, such as the word turn associated with an arrow facing right or left as the case may be.

The illumination of the signs 18 and 21 is controlled by switches 22 and 23, whereas mounted in insulated bearings 35, 36, and 37,

and having contacts or enlarged portions 38 and 39 which are adapted to be engaged by the spring contacts 40 and 41.

The contact 31 of the switch 22 is connected by a conductor 42 to a source of electricity herein diagrammatically illustrated as a battery 43 from whence a conductor 44 leads, and by branch conductors 45 and 46, connects with one terminal of each of the lamps 14 and 17 respectively. The contact 33 of the switch 22 is connected by a conductor 47 to the other terminal of the lamp 14. The contact 40 of the switch 23 is con nected by a conductor 48 to the other terminal of the lamp 17. The contact 32 of the switch 22 and the contact 41 of the switch 23 are connected together by means of a conductor 49, which is arranged so that upon the shifting of the switch 22 to'illuminate the stop sign, it will cut out the circuit to the slow sign and prevent the illumination thereof either by the previous or a subsequent shifting of the switch 23.

The operation of the switches 22 and 23 may be effected manually or they may be connected so as to be automatically actuated by the mechanism which controls the operation of the vehicle. The latter being preferable, the switches 22 and 23 are mounted on a plate 50 and spaced apart the proper distance so that they may be placed on the un der side of the foot board and be directly connected to the foot pedals 51 and 52 which control the service brake and clutch respec tively. In the drawing these foot pedals and connections of the switches thereto are diagrammatically illustrated; bell cranks and links being shown as the connecting means. The nature of such connections will of course depend upon the location of the switches. Usually a single link between each lever and the respective switch will suflice. By virtue of the connection of the switches to these pedals the springs 53 and 54, which normally urge the pedals 51 and 52 into their retracted positions, will shift the rods 25 and 34 of the respective switches into their normal positions as indicated in the drawing.

The switch 24 for controlling the illumination of the signs 19 and 20 is the usual twowvay switch. The lever 55 is connected by conductor 56 to the source of electricity 43 so that through the medium of the con ductor 44 and branch conductors 57 and 58, said lever is connected to one terminal of each of the lamps 15 and 16. One of the contacts 59 of switch 24 is connected by a conductor 60 to the other terminal of the lamp 15, and the other contact 61 is connected by conductors 62 to the other terminal of lamp 16. The switch 24 is arranged on the steering wheel of the vehicle or on some other suitable place adjacent to the operators seat so that it is within convenient reach of the operator.

The operation of the device is as follows :Upon approaching a corner or some congestion in traiiic which necessitates slowing up or stopping of the vehicle, the operator would of necessity be forced to shift the clutch pedal 52 for the purpose of cutting off the motor. This would shift the rod 34 of the switch 23 and cause the engagement of the contacts 41 and 39, whereupon the circuit would be closed to the lamp 17 so that the warning signal slow would be illuminated. The circuit for this connection may be traced from the rod 34 through contacts 39 and 41, conductor 49, contacts 32 and 30, contacts 29 and 31, conductor 42, battery 43, conductor 44, branch conductor 46, lamp 17, conductor 48, contacts 40 and 38, back to the rod 34.

If the operator finds it necessary to bring the vehicle to a stop it would, of course, be necessary to shift the foot pedal 51 for operating the service brake, whereupon the rod 25 of the switch 22 would be shifted so that the circuit to the lamp 14 would be completed, thereby illuminating the sign stop. This circuit may be traced from the rod 25 to the contacts 29 and 31, conductor 42, battery 43, conductor 44, branch conductor 45, lamp 14, conductor 47, contacts 33 and 29, back to the rod 25. The shifting of the rod 25 breaks the circuit between contacts 30 and 32 so that the circuit to the lamps 17 is opened, and the slow sign would not be illuminated regardless of whether the switch 23 is shifted before or at the same time the switch 22 is shifted. hen released, the levers 51 and 52, through the action of the springs 53 and 54, cause the switches 22 and 23 to return to their normal positions, thereby breaking the circuits to the signs 18 and 21.

If the operator is to make a turn, he shifts the lever 55 of the switch 24 to engage one or the other of the contacts 59 or 61 as the case may be for completing the circuit to the lamp 15 or 16, which will cause the illumination of one or other of the si s 19 or 20, depending upon the direction in which the turn is to be made. The tracing of the circuits to the lamps 15 and 16 is so obvious that it will not be detailed here. 7

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing 7 from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. In a signal device, the combination of a plurality of electric signs adapted to be 3 illuminated to indicate changes in the progress of a vehicle, a pair of switches arranged to separately control the illumination of said signs, each of said switches comprising a rod mounted to shift longitudig5 nally, a pair of contact elements on each of said rods, a yielding contact member normally and permanently engaging one of said contact elements on each of said rods, the contact member for one of said rods being connected to one terminal of each of said signs and the contact for the other said rod being connected to the other terminal of one of said signs, a pair of additional yielding contact members arranged adjacent to said one rod and positioned so as to be alternately engaged by the respective contact elements thereon, one of said pair of contact members being connected to the other terminal of the other said sign, a yielding contact member arranged adjacent to the other said rod and so positioned that the said other contact element thereon is shiftable into and out of engagement therewith, said last named contact member being connected with the other of said pair of contact members, all of said contact elements and contact members being arranged so that but one of said signs is capable of illumination at one time, and means for shifting said rods.

2. The combination with an automobile having a plurality of electric signs adapted to be illuminated to indicate changes in the progress thereof and having the usual service-brake and clutch-levers, of a signal device comprising a pair of switches arranged to separately control the illumination of said signs, each of said switches comprising a rod mounted to shift longitudinally, said rods being arranged adjacent to said levers so as to be shiftable in the respective planes of movement thereof, a pair of contact elements on each of said rods, a yielding contact member normally and permanently en gagin one of said contact elements on each of said rods, the contact member for one of said rods being connected to one terminal of each of said signs and the contact for the other said rod being connected to the other terminal of one of said signs, a pair of additional yielding contact members arranged adjacent to said one rod and positioned so as to be alternately engaged by the respective contact elements thereon, one of said pair of contact members being connected to the other terminal of the other said sign, a yielding contact member arranged adjacent to the other said rod and so positioned that the said other contact element thereon is shift- 10 able into and out of engagement therewith,

said last named contact member being connected with the other of said pair of contact members, all of said contact elements and contact members being arranged so that but one of said signs is capable of illuminatlOl at one time, and means for shifting said ro s.

1 Signed at Chicago this 5th day of Februy JOSEPH MARK. 

